Common Reed
Phragmites australis
Also listed as Arundo australis
Also known as Common Reedgrass, Ditch Reed, Reed Grass
Climate Match for your location
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A tall, vigorous perennial grass that thrives in wet areas, marshes, and along water edges, producing feathery plume-like seed heads in late summer and fall. It spreads rapidly via rhizomes and is highly invasive in many regions.
Why grow it
Common reed offers rapid establishment in constructed wetlands and water treatment systems where its dense rhizomatous growth and high biomass production can be advantageous for nutrient uptake and sediment stabilization. Compared to native wetland grasses, it establishes quickly in degraded or heavily disturbed wet sites. However, its vigor makes it better suited to contained management scenarios than to mixed native plantings.
Watch out for
The extensive rhizome network can be difficult to fully remove if the planting needs to be cleared later. In colder climates, winter dieback may leave large dead biomass that requires management. Ensure adequate water availability, as drought stress may trigger more aggressive lateral spread.
Overview
- Form
- Growth Rate
- Size
- Dormancy
- Family
- Poaceae
Native to the United States
Native Range
Eurasia, Africa, Australia
Native to: Alabama, Arkansas, Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, District of Columbia, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Maryland, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Mississippi, Montana, North Carolina, North Dakota, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, Nevada, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin, West Virginia, Wyoming
Seasonality
Season of Interest
Shrub
Woody multi-stem plants at eye level.
Succession Role
Tolerances & Soil
Flood Tolerance
Deer Resistance
Inferred from USDA browse palatability
pH Range
Soil Texture
Establishment & Care
- Establishment
- Maintenance
- Propagation
A tall, vigorous perennial grass that thrives in wet areas, marshes, and along water edges, producing feathery plume-like seed heads in late summer and fall. It spreads rapidly via rhizomes and is highly invasive in many regions.
Climate Match for your location
See how well Common Reed grows in your area.
Enter your ZIP code and we'll show you how this plant fits your local climate.
Why grow it
Common reed offers rapid establishment in constructed wetlands and water treatment systems where its dense rhizomatous growth and high biomass production can be advantageous for nutrient uptake and sediment stabilization. Compared to native wetland grasses, it establishes quickly in degraded or heavily disturbed wet sites. However, its vigor makes it better suited to contained management scenarios than to mixed native plantings.
Watch out for
The extensive rhizome network can be difficult to fully remove if the planting needs to be cleared later. In colder climates, winter dieback may leave large dead biomass that requires management. Ensure adequate water availability, as drought stress may trigger more aggressive lateral spread.
Overview
- Form
- Growth Rate
- Size
- Dormancy
- Family
- Poaceae
Native to the United States
Native Range
Eurasia, Africa, Australia
Native to: Alabama, Arkansas, Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, District of Columbia, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Maryland, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Mississippi, Montana, North Carolina, North Dakota, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, Nevada, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin, West Virginia, Wyoming
Seasonality
Season of Interest
Shrub
Woody multi-stem plants at eye level.
Succession Role
Tolerances & Soil
Flood Tolerance
Deer Resistance
Inferred from USDA browse palatability
pH Range
Soil Texture
Establishment & Care
- Establishment
- Maintenance
- Propagation
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